ADVENTUROUS looks to have been shrewdly placed by Mark Johnston in the CSP European Free Handicap at Newmarket.

Suitably revved up by two spring starts on the all-weather, the three-year-old son of Invincible Spirit is likely to be well forward for this Listed assignment.

By contrast, the likes of Ibn Malik, Kachy and Raucous are almost certainly going to improve for the run as they make their seasonal bow.

With this in mind, you get the impression Johnston will be keen to cash in with Adventurous while he can.

He admittedly did not look top class in the Dewhurst last autumn, when fifth behind Air Force Blue, but a big run at Newmarket could still see him make a late dash for the Guineas.

Connections will be bolstered by his good course form before that as Adventurous was only narrowly beaten by Sanus Per Aquam and Tasleet in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes over this seven-furlong trip.

With a head defeat to the classy Ennaadd at Kempton a fortnight ago a clear indication of his current well-being, Adventurous looks a safe play as today's nap under William Buick in what is quite a difficult race.

Stablemate SUTTER COUNTY cannot be ignored either, again ridden by Buick, when he runs in the Ben Burgess & Co EBF Novice Stakes.

Even in spite of a 6lb penalty, memories of his pretty spectacular racecourse bow at Wolverhampton are not easily erased.

The form has also been stamped too, as Stringybark Creek – who was a nine-length second that day – has since trotted up at Kempton.

The Weatherbys General Stud Book Earl of Sefton Stakes looks a bit of a minefield but the shout might be to side with a race-fit SOVEREIGN DEBT.

Dandy Nicholls' seven-year-old is probably not getting any faster but he seldom falters on a racecourse and would be an utterly deserving winner, with Chris Hayes on board.

RURAL CELEBRATION should go well in the N L Van Truck And Car Hire Handicap at Beverley.

David O'Meara's sprinter likes soft ground – something that could come in quite handy on the Westwood – and is only a few pounds higher than when she won so well at Ayr last summer.

Her autumnal form in better than this last season will also fuel the fires of optimism for her enthusiastic owners Hambleton Racing.

ETAAD had a bit of a nightmare on his most recent outing but all trespasses can be forgiven in division two of the £10 Free Bet At 32RedSport.com Handicap at Kempton's evening meeting.

The five-year-old gelding failed to justify joint-favouritism in a seven-furlong handicap at Lingfield but his jockey said he ran "flat" and that was almost certainly not his true running.

His form before that held up very well and, suitably freshened up for a mini-break, a race like this is comfortably within reach.

JOHNS SPIRIT has not had a good season by any stretch of the imagination but he is always to be respected at Cheltenham.

Having slipped to something like a workable mark, Jonjo O'Neill can be trusted to have the nine-year-old in a much happier place ahead of the Teenage Cancer Trust Silver Trophy Chase.